Making Mealtime Fun

I wrote this post as a participant in the Eat, Play, Love blog carnival hosted by Meals Matter and Dairy Council of California to share ideas on positive and fun ways to teach children healthy eating habits. A list of other registered dietitians and moms who are participating in the carnival will be listed at the bottom of this post or can be found on Meals Matter.

As a dietitian with the KidShape program, I have learned the magic of making mealtimes fun in helping kids to eat healthier. Here are some tips I’ve learned from KidShape families:

Eat meals together, as a family, as often as possible.

Make mealtimes pleasant. Sit at the table, and thank the cook for preparing the meal.

Turn off the TV, so families can fully enjoy the food and the company.

Invite kids to help with the cooking. This can be especially fun when preparing a kid-friendly meal, like homemade pizzas on whole wheat pita bread.

Be a good role model. If kids see their parents enjoying nutritious foods, and contributing to a positive atmosphere at the dinner table, they will learn to do the same.

Take it slow. Kids need to be exposed to food numerous times before they are willing to accept it.

What other tips have you found help make mealtimes fun?

Don’t stop here! Join the carnival and read other Eat, Play, Love blogs from dietitians and moms offering the best advice on raising healthy eaters. And if you don’t get enough today, for more positive, realistic and actionable advice from registered dietitian moms, register for the free, live webinar Eat, Play, Love: Raising Healthy Eaters on Wednesday, May 18.